Latest update April 12th, 2026 12:50 AM
La Grange man to sue CANU over alleged attack
…says suffered internal bleeding, broken ribs
(Kaieteur News) – Howard Johnson, a 40-year-old resident of Old Road La Grange, West Bank Demerara said legal action will be taken against all liable parties, after suffering shortness of breath, broken ribs and internal bleeding, which led to him having emergency surgery, from a beating he claims he received at the hands of ranks attached to the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) on January 16, 2026.
In an interview with this publication on Wednesday, Johnson detailed the attack and provided images of the X-Rays done, as well as videos of him at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC).
The X-Ray image showing the pooled blood on the left side of his chest.
The man explained that last week’s incident was his second run-in with CANU ranks in less than a year.
He provided details about the incident. “Well, I was home cooking, my father and my nephew, my mom, she was in the hospital, so I was taking care of my dad. He don’t have no legs, but I was at the receiver, I finished cooking, washing up the wares and stuff. I hear this footstep coming in. So, as I step back and look to see what the footsteps is, it’s a CANU officer already like right there, and he started punching upon me, and as I try to cover myself from the blow right, there are several others coming and joining him and start stamping up on me.”
He told Kaieteur News that he had no history of wrong doing. “They just beat me, beating me and stamping on me.”
Johnson said he was never arrested for any crime after the assault by the CANU ranks. He later ventured to the La Grange Police Station where he filed a report. However, he was never contacted again after a Sergeant went to his home and took photographs.
“Well, due to the circumstance with the incident with my ribs, right? I didn’t know what the seriousness of it until now. I had come to lodge a complaint, Ministry of Home Affairs, on Brickdam,” he recalled.
Johnson displaying some of the bruises from the beatings.
It was while waiting to be tended to that he began experiencing breathing problems and pain in his chest. He said he recalled waking up in an ambulance being transported to the GPHC, and being told that he passed out.
On arrival at the GPHC he was placed on a stretcher, due to the level of pain he was feeling Johnson said he tried explaining to anyone who would listen but his pleas fell on deaf ears. When one doctor did pay him heed, he explained his suspicions of having broken ribs and he was transferred to a wheel chair it was back to square one.
Johnson informed this publication, “I got a video that I make in public hospital. When at the end of video, a few of the like professional doctors and who’s down on the floor. One of them said, Yo, get him out here. Put he out de compound. Make sure you get duh phone and delete duh video.”
He left the hospital and returned home but was still in pain. The following day it became unbearable and he visited West Demerara Regional Hospital, where it was discovered that he had internal bleeding and his chest cavity was filling up with blood.
“The doctor tell me my lungs was to the verge of collapsing. So, I had to go under an emergency operation…Because I was at the hospital on Friday the same evening for the injury with the rib. But I didn’t know what’s bleeding on the inside,” Johnson lamented.
When asked what his next steps are he said, “Well, I just need some justice. I need some form of justice. I need some compensation for my injuries, because, like I said, they didn’t come and state what they hear, what they come for. They just come with an intention, I guess, was to just do what they come to do…I’m already in legal (talks) with my counsel Mr. Patrice, all right.”
Admitted and hooked up to a machine to drain the excess fluid in his chest cavity.
Admitted and hooked up to a machine to drain the excess fluid in his chest cavity.
He disclosed that he will be filing a lawsuit very soon against all liable parties, and revealed that he can identify some of his attackers as not all of them were wearing masks.
Head of CANU James Singh was contacted by a reporter attached to this publication who identified herself and the entity she worked for. Just as she started to explain Johnson’s allegations and mentioned his name, Singh cut her off abruptly and said, “Excuse me, good afternoon. Good afternoon. I don’t know who I’m speaking with, so I really can’t discuss anything about the CANU operation to someone who I don’t know reporting from an entity that I don’t know. So, if you have any questions, either come to CANU or you can send it by way of email. I’m sorry.”
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